Willow, Alaska -
Fake Dead Backpacker

The faked dead backpacker is no longer there. We spent a great deal of time looking over the entire area for it. [Smullis, 09/04/2011]

Near the summit of the mountain pass west of Independence Mine State Historical Park there is a beautiful small mountain lake, named Summit Lake. It is fed by surrounding small snow fields. Just above one of the snowfields is a FAKE DEAD BACKPACKER. The FAKE DEAD BODY is lying on the rocks, sprawled out as if he tumbled there from above. He is in a green jumpsuit, with a cardboard box on his back wrapped in black plastic to look like a backpack. If you are hiking on the slope and don't know he is there, you'll get a real shock when you discover him. After our hearts stopped pounding, we named him Waldo. If you see him, be sure to leave him there for the next tourist to discover. [K. Ward, 09/29/2001]